342 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



the value of the home consumption. The $20,000,000, mentioned above as the value 

 of the Canadian fisheries in 1892, can not be anything else than the value of the fish 

 prepared for exportation or sold on the Canadian markets. In that amount I do not 

 include the $5,000,000, the approximate value of the fish caught and consumed by the 

 native population of Manitoba, British Columbia, and the Northwest. And in the 

 other provinces of the Dominion, with a population of over 4,000,000 inhabitants, for 

 whom fish is one of the principal articles of diet, the estimated value of fish consumed 

 is $12,000,000. Adding the value of fish cured for the trade and that of fish captured 

 for local consumption, we have, for 1892, a total of $37,000,000. These figures give an 

 idea of the immense richness of the Canadian waters. 



Every country of the world having waters of any extent understands what an 

 important contribution fisheries are to the national wealth and encourages by every 

 possible means those who carry on this industry. Large sums of money are spent 

 every year by capitalists in the building of continually improved fishing craft and gear, 

 and governments are spending millions in the construction of piers, breakwaters, 

 wharves, and other improvements for the advancement of the fishing industry. Fish- 

 ery bureaus, headed by the most eminent, influential, and practical men, are formed to 

 seek for the best means of rendering the fisheries more and more productive, and this 

 exposition brings an additional proof of the interest taken by all in the progress of the 

 fisheries and the welfare of the fishermen. 



I am happy to be able to state here that, owing to the encouragement lately given 

 to them by our government, and especially by our able and energetic minister of 

 marine fisheries, Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper, the Canadian fisheries are rapidly 

 progressing. Fishing-craft building has advanced rapidly, and the swift schooners 

 of our maritime provinces can already compete fairly with American fishing vessels, 

 reputed the best of their class in the world. Steamers, which are now used in the 

 fisheries on our lakes, will doubtless be seen soon among the vessels used for the work- 

 ing of our most important sea fisheries. Considerable sums of money are spent by our 

 government on the building of harbors of refuge and lighthouses for the guidance of 

 the fishermen. A large sum of money is distributed every year among our fishermen 

 as premiums, and our public men are willing to continue to help the advancement of 

 an industry which for the future of the Dominion is so necessary and important. 



The incalculable importance of such invaluable fisheries in colonization, in the 

 development of commerce, in adding to the country's food produce for home consump- 

 tion, and for the training of skilled seamen for naval and merchant marine, are points 

 which the histories of all great maritime nations amply demonstrate. The histories 

 of the United States, France, Holland, Great Britain, are striking illustrations of the 

 vast national benefits derived from the prosecution of sea fisheries. What but the 

 rough experience of British and United States fishermen in prosecuting their labors 

 on some of the roughest coasts of the world has made their skill and bravery? It is 

 rough experience that makes a sailor, and it is just such experience that has enabled 

 the seamen of the maritime provinces of Canada to take a first place for skill and 

 coolness among the other sailors of the world. 



Our most important finking grounds. — The fisheries of Canada may be divided into 

 two great classes, the deep-sea fisheries and the fresh -water or lake and river fisheries. 

 We shall give the precedence to the former as being the most important. Only about 

 half of our 5,000 miles of seacoast has till now been properly worked. We do not 



